Door support for pressure vessels



y 3, 1952 w. H. ZOLLINGER 2,596,354

DOOR SUPPORT FOR PRESSURE VESSELS Original Filed July 5, 1947 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 1952 w. H. ,ZOLLINGER 2,596,354

' DOOR SUPPORT moR PRESSURE VESSEILS Original Filed July 5, 1947 '3 Sheets-Sheet 2 F 1 /y 4 7 w Z! W11 1; @mzzmxm 19 3 A \\\\\&\%

y 13, 1952 w. H. ZOLLINGER 2,596,354

DOOR SUPPORT FOR PRESSURE VESSELS Patented May 13, 1952 DOOR SUPPORT FOR PRESSURE VESSELS Walter H. Zollinger, Bethlehem, Pa., assignor to Bethlehem Steel Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania Original application July 5, 1947, Serial No.

759,039. Divided and this application December 6, 1949, Serial No. 131,448

14 Claims.

This invention relates broadly to large sized pressure vessels used in vulcanizing plastic materials which are subjected to very high pressures and more especially to a quick acting door closure therefor which will allow quick access to the contents of the vessel immediately upon the release of the pressure in the vessel, and is a division of my copending application Serial No. 759,039, filed July 5, 1947, for Pressure Vessel.

A further object of the invention relates to the means for opening andclosing the door and the manner of locking the door in its closed position.

Another object of the invention relates to a safety device for the vessel. Should the operator by mistake try to admit pressure to the vessel when it is not in the full locked position the interlocking valve will bypass the same and prevent pressure from building up in the vessel.

A further object of my invention is to provide an auxiliary support for large and heavy doors during the opening and closing operations.

I Other objects or my invention will appear hereinafter.

Having thus given a general description of the objects of my invention I will now in order to make the same more clear, refer to the annexed three sheets of drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like characters of reference indicate like parts.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a pressure vessel embodying my invention, with a portion of the vessel shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a front end elevation.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the interlocking valve casing at the closure end of the pressure vessel taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal longitudinal section through the closure end of the pressure vessel taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2, but showing the door in the open position in full lines and in the closed position in dotted lines.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal longitudinal section through the closure end of the pressure vessel taken on the same line 4 -4 of Fig. 2 showing the door in the closed position and. locked.

Fig. 6 is a bottom side elevation of the closure end of the pressure vessel.

Fig. '7 is a transverse section through the interlocking valve casing taken on the line 1--1 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a transverse section through the interlocking valve casing taken on the 'line 8-8 of Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the closure end of the pressure'vessel.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged vertical section of the jib-crane and adjacent parts showing the mannor of mounting the same taken on the line Iii-I9 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view showing the pipe connections to the pressure vessel and the valves for controlling the flow of fluid pressure to and from the same.

Referring now to the various characters of reference on the drawings, the numeral I indicates the pressure vessel of tubular shape having one end closed as at 2, provided with threaded openings 3, 4 and 5 for receiving pipe connections for the fluid pressure to and from the vessel. The other end of the tubular pressure vessel is open and provided on its inner surface with a tapered door jamb surface 6 for receiving the tapered seating surface "I of a door 8 having an annular groove 9 for receiving a gasket It] to prevent the fluid from escaping from the vessel. The end of the pressure vessel adjacent to the tapered door jamb is adapted to form a door case II which is formed integral with the body of the pressure vessel. A temperature control jacket I2 surrounds the body of the pressure vessel I which is provided with an expansion joint as at I3 and suitable pipe connections for the inlet and exhaust for the transmission of heating and cooling mediums thereto. As shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10 and 11 the vertically extending left hand forward edge portion of the door case II is formed with a plurality of hinge lugs I l between which the hinge lugs I5 of the door 8 are mounted each having registering openings I6 for receiving a hinge bolt IT. The vertically extending outer edge of the door case I I has a plurality of spaced ears I8 between Which the serrated swinging edge I9 of the door 8 is adapted to be latched. The spaced cars It have registering apertures 28 for receiving a locking bolt 2| which is journaled therein, and said locking bolt is formed with out out segments between the spaced ears l8 as at 22. The serrated swinging edge I9 of the door as which is adapted to be latched is somewhat shorter than the thickness of the locking bolt M and is provided with an are shaped recess as at 23 for engaging the locking bolt 2| when the door is in the locked position as indicated in Fig. 5, but will allow the door to be opened when the locking bolt 2I is rotated by the locking lever 24 to the position indicated in full lines in Fig. 4 to allow the projecting serrated swinging edge I9 of the door to pass through the out out segment portion 22 of the locking bolt 2|.

A bail 25 is secured to opposite sides of the door 8 and extends beyond one edge of the same and provided with a handle by means of which the door may be swung open or closed manually when it is in the unlocked position and to reduce the weight of the door it may be provided with a circular recess 27. V

The locking lever 24 is secured to the locking bolt 2| by means of a nut 28 and is further keyed thereto at 29 together with a washer 30 Which is provided with stop projections 31 and 32 for engaging a stop pin 33 for limiting the rotation of the locking bolt 2 l. The other end of the lock in bolt 2! has a tubular sleeve 34 keyed thereto as at 35 and is provided with a recess 30 for re 'ceiving a tooth 3! extending from 'the'upper end for cleaning, while the stem is is provided with a gland 49 to prevent leakage.

As indicated; diagrammatically in Fig. 11 an air vent pipe: connected to the threaded opening 3. in- .the closed end 2 of the pressure vesseland controlled by a valve 5|. Threaded opening Aiis connected by a pipe 52 extending to a-branch pipe .53; connected to a water pipe 5% controlled by. a valve 55 and, a high pressure steam pipe. 533.: controlled by a valve 57. Pipe 52 is also connected by means of a pipe 58 to a port 5.9;. iormedinthe valve casing. M. The threaded openingi is connected to an exhaust pipe 50 controlled by a valve-0|. Said exhaust pipe 60 has abypasspipe-connection 62 extending to a port 1 .03.formed imthefvalvecasing M.

The operation or. the device is as follows: Assuming that the." door is locked and the parts are in the 'positionin Figs. 1,2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10 and 11, the. interlocking'valvei 45. is closed by pressure of the spring A'I'beneath the valve and the vent pipe valveii: openand. the high pressure valve 5'! andlthe. exhaust'valve 61 are closed, valve 55 is then open'u'ntil the pressure vessel is filled with waterjva'lve' 55. then closedand high pressure valve =51.: is opened and the vent pipe valve 5| closed. andfthe"vesseli'subjected to 3000 to 5000 lbsJper square inch pressure, which may be considerably'imore in' large sized pressure vessels,

to" vulcanize; the plastic material. During the vulcanizing operation the pressure in the vessel actsjon the' interlookin valve keeping it closed tight and-making it impossible to move the interlocking releaseilever. 38; After the high pressure valve 51. has 'been' closed and exhaust valve 6| willrbe held in that position'by the weighted end of the lever'there by holding the interlocking valve 45- open untilth lockin'glever 24 is again swung into'the'lookihg position.

For all positions or the interlocking release lever' 3'8' with' the exception o'fthe fully locked position'the interlocking vaiveaa is kept open.

Should the operator by mistake try to admit pressure to the vessel the interlocking valve 45 will bypass the water and high pressure and prevent pressure from building up in the vessel.

For the smaller sized pressure vessels the doors may be manually operated to swing vertically for opening or closing the door by means of the handle 25 of the bail 25 when the door is unlocked as disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 759,039. r

In large sized pressure vessels as disclosed in this application where the pressure is considerably greater the doors may weigh as much as five or six thousands pounds and are obviously too heavy-to lift manually; when this is the case it is desirable to hinge the door to swing horizontally and to provide an auxiliary means to help support the door during the openin and closing operations.

In these larger sized pressurevessels it is desirable to forge the door case H integralwith'the body of the pressure vessel! andfsurrouridthe body of the pressure vessel with a jacket The hinge bolt IT? is disposed vertioally and extends above the door case ll as'atli; and is provided with a'collar 05 integral therevgith 'ior engaging the top of the hinge lugs I4 of theidoor case I l. Upon the extending end 04 o f thhingie bolt I l is mounteda jib-cranecomprising a cylindrical portion 66 mountedon theextending end 6 which is enlarged atit's lower end as jat iifl to receive a ball bearing 68 while upon th e upper end 69 of 64 which is reduced slightly is mounte'd a roller bearing it The upper end of. thecylindrical portion fiii is provided with a cap Ii which is secured thereto by means. of bolts 1 2. The

cylindrical portion Et is provided with anextending arm 13 with a tubular outer end 1 4 for receiving a stud bolt 25, the upper end of which is threaded as at l fi to receive nuts ll-to act against the upper end of the tubular. po tion 14 while the lower end. of said stud bqlt'lfi is threaded as atTB and secured to the top central portion of the door 8; in this manner When'the door isv unlocked}'the,j0perator. by means'of. the bail handle 26 can easilyswing. thev hingedydoor horizontally and. the jib-crane. will. formi an auxiliary support therefor; Although I have shown and, described; my invention in considerable detail, I doin'ot wish to be limited to the exact-andspecifio detailsshown and described, but may usesuch' substitutions,

modifications or equivalents thereof; as are e'mof the door, means for swingingthe door to 'the open and closed positions, an arm formed. with a cylindrical end portion mounted on'thepro} jecting end of the hinge bolt and extending o'ut wardly therefrom and having a tubular outer end, a stud boltconnecting the tubular'outer end portion of the extending arm and the central-top portiono'f the door adapted-to foini an auxiliary support for the door during theopening and closing operations, a locking bolt mounted on the door case for latching the swinging edge of the door in the closed position, means for rocking the locking bolt to latch and unlatch the door, and means for holding the bolt against rotation when the door is closed.

2. A pressure vessel comprising a tubular body portion having a pressure chamber open at one end, a door jamb formed within the open end portion of the vessel, a door case extending around the open end portion of the vessel, a swinging door attached by a hinge to the door case adapted to engage the door jamb for closing said open end, means for swinging the door to the open and closed positions, said hinge for the door including a hinge bolt having an end portion extending beyond an edge of the door, a

, jib-crane mounted on the extending portion of the hinge bolt and having an extending arm, a stud bolt connecting the outer end of the extending arm and the central top portion of the door adapted to form an auxiliary support for the door during the opening and closing operations, a locking bolt mounted on the door case for latching the swinging edge of the door in the closed position, means for rocking the locking bolt to latch and unlatch the door, and means for holding the locking bolt against rotation when the door is closed.

3. A pressure vessel comprising a tubular body portion having a pressure chamber open at one end, a door jamb having a beveled surface formed within the open end portion of the vessel, a door case extending around the door jamb formed integral with the vessel, a swinging door attached by a hinge to the door case having a frusto-conical valve surface adapted to engage th-ebeveled surface of the door jamb for closing said open end, means for swinging the door to the open and closed positions, said hinge for the door including a hinge bolt having an end portion extending beyond an edge of the door, a jib-crane mounted on the extending end portion of the hinge bolt and having an extending arm, a bolt connecting the outer end of the arm with the top central portion of the door adapted to form an auxiliary support for the door during the opening and closing operations, a locking bolt mounted on the door case for latching the swinging edge of the door in the closed position, means for rocking the locking bolt to latch and unlat-ch the door, and means for holding the locking bolt against rotation when the door is closed.

4. In a pressure vessel, a tubular body portion having a pressure chamber open at one end, a door jamb formed at the open end portion of the vessel, a door case adjacent to the open end portion of the vessel, a swinging door attached by a hinge to the door case adapted to engage the door jamb for closing said open end, means for swinging the door to the open and closed positions, said hinge for the door including a hinge :bolt having an end portion extending beyond an edge of the door, a collar on the extending portion of the hinge bolt or engaging the end of the hinge, a jib-crane comprising a cylindrical portion mounted on the extending end of the hinge bolt and supported on the collar and having an arm with a tubular outer end portion, a stud bolt connecting the tubular outer end portion of the arm with the central portion of the top of the door, said jib-crane adapted to form an auxiliary support for the door during the opening and closing operations, a locking bolt mounted on the door case for latching the swinging edge of the door in the closed position, means 6 for rocking the locking bolt to open and close the door, and means for holding the locking bolt against rotation when the door is closed.

5. In a pressure vessel, a tubular body portion having a pressure chamber open at one end, a door jamb formed at the open end of the vessel, a door case adjacent to the open end portion of the vessel, a swinging door attached by a hinge to the door case adapted to engage the door jamb for closing said open end, means for swinging the door to the open and closed positions, said hinge for the door including a hinge bolt having an end portion extending beyond an edge of the door, a collar on the extending portion of the hinge bolt for engaging the end of the hinge, a jib-crane comprising a cylindrical portion provided with an anti-friction bearing therein at each end mounted on the extending end of the hinge bolt and supported on the collar, said cylindrical portion of the jib-crane having an arm with a tubular outer end portion, a stud bolt connecting the tubular outer end portion of the arm with the central portion of the door, said jib-crane adapted to form an auxiliary support for the door during the opening and closing operations. a locking bolt mounted on the door case for latching the swinging edge of the door in the closed position, and means for holding the locking bolt against rotation when the door is closed.

6. In a pressure vessel, a tubular body portion having a pressure chamber open at one end, a door jamb formed at the open end portion of the vessel, a door case adjacent to the open end portion of the vessel, a swinging door attached by a hinge to the door case adapted to engage the door jamb for closing said open end, means for swinging the door to the open and closed positions, and a jib-crane having one end p-ivotally mounted on the door case and the other end connected to the top central portion of the door adapted to form an auxiliary support for the door during the opening and closing operations.

7. A pressure vessel comprising a tubular body portion having a pressure chamber open at one end and closed at the opposite end, a door jamb formed within the open end portion of the vessel, a door case formed integral with the tubular body portion of the pressure vessel surrounding the open end portion of the pressure chamber, a door attached by a hinge to the door case, means for swingin the door to the open and closed positions to disengage and engage the door jamb, an auxiliary support for the door during the opening and closing operations, means for automatically locking the swinging edge of the door when the door is closed, inlet and exhaust pipe connections havin valves for controlling the supply of fluid pressure to and from the pressure chamber, an interlocking valve having pipe connections to the fluid pressure supply and exhaust pipe connections for the pressure chamber, resilient means for normally holding the interlocking valve seated at all times when the door is closed, an interlocking release lever, means actuated by the locking means for the swinging edge of the door engaging the interlocking release lever for holding the interlocking valve open at all times to bypass the fluid pressure for the pressure chamber to the exhaust pipe connection when the door is open.

8. A pressure vessel comprising a tubular body portion having a pressure chamber open at one end and closed at the opposite end, means for controlling the supply of fluid pressure to and from the chamber, a door jamb formed within the open end portion of the tubular body, a door case surrounding up ope'n end portion of chamber, a door attached 'by a hinge to the' door the case, said hinge 'for the doorhaving an end p'ortion' extending be onean edge or the door, a'jibcrane mounted on the extending -portion of the hinge bolt and having an extending arm,'a stud bolt connecting the] outer end of 'thearm'and the central top portionofthe-"door adapted to form an auxiliary support'for "the door -*during' the opening and closingoperations,'-means' for swinging'the door tot-he open and closedpositions, a bolt mounted on the door caseadapted-to be rotated to lock and unloclc'the door;;means for holding the bolt when'the dooris'locked to prevent rotation, andmeans' adaptedto by-passi the fluid pressure for the pressure chamber -to'-an exhaust connection when the door is unlocked.

' 9; -A pressure vessel'comprising a tubular body portion h vin pressure chamber open atone with the top central portion of the'door adapted to form an auxiliary support for the door during the opening and closing operations, means for swinging the door to the open and closed positions to engage and disengage the door jamb, spaced ears'extending'from the'door case, a bolt mounted for-rocking movement in the ears for latchin the door in the'cl'osed position, means for rocking the bolt to'open and close the door, and means for limiting the rocking movement of the bolt.

10. A pressure vessel comprising a tubular body portion havinga pressure chamber open at one end andclosed at' the opposite end, threaded openings in the closed end for pipe connections with meansfor controlling the fluid pressure to and from the chamber a door jamb having a beveled surface formed 'within' the open end portion of the tubular body} a} door case surrounding the open endportionof the chamber, adoor attached bya hinge to the door case having an extending f-rusto-conical valve surfaceadapted to engage the beveled surface 'of -'-the door jamb for at one end and closed attheoppositeend, in-

let and outlet pipe connections to the closed end of the vessel having valves for controlling thesu'pply of fluid 'pressure'to and afromathe chamber, a door jamb formed within the open end portion of the tubular body, a door case surrounding the open end portion of the chamber'having a forward edge, a door hinged to the forward edge of the door case having a serrated swinging edge said hinge for the door including a'hinge bolt having an end portion extending beyond an edge of the door,- a'jib-crane mounted on the extending portion of the hinge 7 bolt and having an extending arm, a stud bolt connecting the outer end of the arm and the central top portion of the door adapted to' form an auxiliary support for the door during'the opening and closing operations, means for swinging the door to the open and closed positions,

a plurality of spaced ears" extending from the forward edge of the door case adjacent to the swingingserrated edge of the door when closed, registering apertures formed in the ears, arcshaped recesses formed in the serrated swinging edge of the door, a locking bolt mounted for rocking movement in the apertures in the ears and the arc-shaped recesses formed in the swinging edge of the door having cut out segments between the spaced ears adapted to latch and unlatch the swinging edge of the door, means to prevent rocking movement of the bolt when the door is latched, and 'means adapted "to' bypass the fluid pressure for the pressure chamber to an exhaust connection whenthe door is unlocked.

12. A pressure vessel comprising a tubular body portion having'a pressure chamberopen at one end and closed at the opposite end, a door jamb formed with the .open end portion of the vessel, a door case surrounding the open end portion of the vessel, a door hinged to the door case, said hinge for the. door including. a

-hinge bolt-having an end portion extending beclosing said open end-said hinge for the door in- V eluding a hinge bolt-having an end portion-extending beyond an edge'oithe door, a collar on the extending portionof the hinge boltfor engaging the end of-the hinge, a jib-crane comprisa ing a cylindrical portion mounted on the extendingend of the hinge bolt and supported on the collar and having an arm with a tubular end portion, a stud bolt connecting the tubular end portion'or" the arm with'the c'entraltop portion of the door, said jib-crane-adapted to form-an auxiliary support for the door during the opening and closing operations means for "swingin the door to the open and 'closedpositions, a bolt mounted on the door case adapted to be rotated to latch, and u'nlatch the door, means for holdi'ngthe boltwhen'the door locked to prevent rotation, and means adapted to-bypass the fluid pressure for the pressure-chamber to EtIl-BXhaUSt connection'when the door-is unlocked.

11. A pressure vessel comprising -atubular yond an edge of the door, a jib-crane-mounted 1 onthe extending portion of the hinge bolt and having an extending 'arm, a studbolt connecting the outer end of the arm' and the central top portion of the door adapted to" form an auxiliary support for the door'during theopening and closing operationsgmeans for swinging -the door to the open and closed-positions todisengage and engage the door jamb, means for locking the swinging edge of'thedoorwhen the door is closed, inlet and outletpipe-conne'ctions to the closed end of the vessel having valves for controlling 'the' supply of fluid .pressurexto and-from the chamber, a valve having a' pipe connection to the fluid' pressure supply pipe to 't'he'pressure chamber;'resilient means for normally holding the valve seated when-"the door 7 1 is closed and the fluid pressure to the vessel is cut on, fluid pressure means from the supply pipe for retaining the valve closed when- -the fluid pressure is admitted into the chamber of 7 the vessel when the door'is closed, and-means for opening'the valve to bypass the 'fluidpressure for the pressure 'chamber to an exhaust connection when the door isunlooked.

13. A pressure vessel comprising a container having a pressure chamber open at one end and closed at the opposite end, a door surrounding the open endportion of the vessel, inletand exhaust-pipe connections to the pressure chamber having valves for controlling the fluid-pressure to and from the 'pressure ch'amb'er; aswinging door hinged to the door case for closing the open end of the pressure chamber, said hinge for the door including a hinged bolt having an end portion extending beyond an edge of the door, a collar on the extending portion of the hinge bolt for engaging the end of the hinge, a jib-crane comprising a cylindrical portion provided With an anti-friction bearing therein at each end mounted on the extending end of the hinge bolt and supported on the collar, said cylindrical portion of the jib-crane having an arm with a tubular outer end portion, a stud bolt connecting the tubular outer end portion of the arm with the central top portion of the door, said jib-crane adapted to form an auxiliary support for the door during the opening and closing operations, means for swinging the door to the open and closed positions, means for automatically locking the door in the closed position, an interlockin valve having pipe connections to the fluid supply and exhaust pipes for the pressure chamber, resilient means for normally holding the valve seated when the door is closed, and means for opening the valve when the door is opened.

14. A pressure vessel comprising a tubular body portion having a pressure chamber open at one end and closed at the opposite end, a door jamb formed within the open end portion of the vessel, a door case surrounding the open end portion of the vessel, a door hinged to the door case, said hinge for the door including a hinge bolt having an end portion extending be, yond an edge of the door, a collar on the ex- 10 tending portion of the hinge bolt for engaging the end of the hinge, a jib-crane comprising a cylindrical portion mounted on the extending end of the hinge bolt and supported on the collar and having an arm with a tubular end portion, a stud bolt connecting the tubular end portion of the arm with the central portion of the top of the door, said jib-crane adapted to form an auxiliary support for the door during the opening and closing operations, means for swinging the door to the open and closed positions to disengage and engage the door jamb, means for automatically locking the swinging edge of the door when the door is closed, inlet and exhaust pipe connections having valves for controlling the supply of fluid pressure to and from the pressure chamber, an interlocking valve having pipe connections to the fluid pressure supply and exhaust pipe connections for the pressure chamber, resilient means for holding the valve seated at all times when the door is closed, and means for holding the valve open at all times when the door is open.

WALTER H. ZOLLINGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,330,146 Solberg Feb. 10, 1926 1,443,446 Watermann Jan. 39, 1923 1,833,208 Davidson Nov. 24, 1931 

